Linklaters

📢 Our Fintech team led by Richard H., alongside Harry Eddis, Michael Voisin, Peter Bevan, Sam Quicke and Olivia Murphy, has advised UK Finance on the successful completion of the experimentation phase of its UK Regulated Liability Network (RLN). We are delighted to have worked with UK Finance and eleven of its members (Barclays, Citi, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Mastercard, NatWest, Nationwide Building Society, Santander, Standard Chartered, Virgin Money and Visa) on this groundbreaking initiative, paving the way for significant advancements in the payments landscape. 🔍 What is the UK Regulated Liability Network? ▪ The RLN is a new type of financial market infrastructure that can deliver new capabilities for payments and settlement, including tokenisation and programmability. 🚀 Key conclusions: ▪ Such a platform, in collaboration with other important initiatives such as Open Banking, could deliver economic value and support innovation in the market. ▪ New functionality, such as programmable payments and locking/unlocking of funds, was demonstrated across a range of use cases. ▪ It could provide new and innovative firms with a common point of access to enable them to interface with established institutions, and enhanced payment and settlement systems. ▪ The legal and regulatory framework of the UK is sufficiently flexible to support the implementation of a ‘platform for innovation’, subject to further implementation and regulatory engagement. To learn more about the RLN and our involvement, click here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e7mv8rH5 #RLN #Innovation #RegulatedLiabilityNetwork #tokenisation

🎉 We are thrilled to have won last night in the ‘Innovative Lawyers in Sustainability & ESG’ category at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Awards Europe 2024, for our pro bono work in developing the Sector Transition Acceleration Contract alongside Scope 3 Climate Capital.   We also maintained our overall ranking of 3rd Most Innovative Firm in Europe, alongside being ranked as the highest UK-headquartered firm on social responsibility, and being recognised as ‘Standout’ and ‘Highly Commended’ across our four other shortlisted projects. 💬 Greg B., Global Head of Innovation, commented: "Creativity and innovation for the better of our clients and the world around us is at the heart of what we do. These recognised projects are original and a real testament to the excellence of our people, an innovative mindset which runs throughout in the firm, and our drive to continuously look for new solutions which have impact. It’s wonderful to receive so many accolades for our work across such a broad range of areas. Well done to everyone involved.”   💬 Alex Shopov, Head of ESG Structured Finance, commented: “To reach net-zero, businesses must address “Scope 3” supply chain emissions which, for so many of them, account for the majority of their GHG emissions. We are proud to have won for our groundbreaking approach in aligning incentives in a robust, transparent, contract-based way, using the power of supply chains to work together to unlock private capital and blended finance opportunities for direct investment to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Working with Scope 3 Climate Capital (S3CC), their partner Impact Delta, and their advisory council on developing the new Sector Transition Acceleration Contract (STAC) has been a rewarding experience, and we look forward to seeing the STAC take off and help lead us to a net-zero future.” Read more on our website 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMRjR84R

📢 A team led by Pathik Gandhi and Gus Graham advised a group of leading financial institutions on the financing for BlackRock’s acquisition of a minority ownership stake in the Saudi Bahrain Pipeline Company from Bapco Energies, the integrated energy company leading the energy transition in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Our top ranked banking lawyers advise on some of the largest and most complex deals in the market, drawing on deep expertise across our corporate and structured lending, leveraged finance, restructuring and insolvency, financial structuring, real estate finance, asset finance, high yield, and trade finance teams to structure innovative solutions for clients. Read more on our website 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecwms7aX

📣 A warm welcome to Joanna Addison who joins us this week as our new Global Sector Lead for Energy Transition.   This strategic appointment adds a wealth of expertise to our #Energy sector. Joanna brings over twenty years' experience in the project development, operations, and acquisition and disposal of all aspects of the energy value chain, as well as energy transition projects including carbon capture, usage and storage.   Joanna will be based in London but will have a global focus, including drawing on her vast expertise in the Middle East.   👉 Learn more about Joanna below.   #EnergyTransition #renewables 

We wish you and your family a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 🏮

A warm welcome to Michael H. Torkin who joins us in New York as a partner and Head of U.S. Capital Solutions & Special Situations. Michael’s multidisciplinary expertise and longstanding track record of routinely advising on a broad array of special situation investments and recapitalisation transactions will allow us to deliver for our clients on their most challenging and complex stressed and distressed situations.  Reflecting our ongoing commitment to investing in our top tier practice across the globe, Michael follows Riaz Janjuah who we welcomed to our #Restructuring & #Insolvency team in Hamburg earlier this week. Follow our Linklaters Americas showcase page for more updates from our US team.

A warm welcome to Riaz Janjuah who joins us as a partner in Hamburg. Riaz brings extensive expertise and experience in advising on complex national and international #restructurings and #insolvencies. Follow our Linklaters Germany showcase page for more updates from our German offices. 

📰 Members of our global arbitration team Clara Tung, Katrien Baetens and Kimberley Pardailhe-Galabrun provided an overview of the critical interplay between international arbitration proceedings, data protection and cybersecurity, in the new “Practical insights – Data Protection” module published on Wolters Kluwer: International Arbitration & Mediation. Key themes include: 🖋 the importance of proactive #cybersecurity measures and data protection compliance across all stages of #arbitration 🖋 the potential for cyberattacks to disrupt proceedings, compromise sensitive information, and even influence the outcomes of disputes 🖋 actionable guidance for legal professionals to navigate the complex web of #data protection laws, implement robust security protocols, and manage the risks of cyber threats effectively. Our contribution of the Data Protection module, as well as a separate “Damages & Valuation” module, were coordinated by Richard H. and Juan Manuel Sánchez Pueyo, also members of our global arbitration team. Connect with our global arbitration group team to discuss the themes in detail and how they can support your business. Read the full publication here (paywall)👉: https://lnkd.in/gCA9URqA.

📢 A team led by Andrew Jennens and Mees Roelofs has advised Citi, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking on the debt financing of Mubadala Capital’s proposed acquisition of a majority stake in Bugaboo, a global market-leader in strollers and premium children’s consumer products, from Bain Capital. As part of the transaction, Bain Capital will retain a minority stake in Bugaboo. Our leveraged finance practice advises the world’s most sophisticated financial sponsors, investment banks and credit funds on their most complex and challenging financing transactions, working closely with our leading PE and M&A practice to guide clients through financing structures. Read more on our website 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8WcGkWu

📢 A team led by Toby Grimstone and Atish Shah has advised Sibanye-Stillwater on the €500m #greenloan financing for its Keliber lithium project in Finland, through its subsidiary Keliber Technology Oy, marking the first European Investment Bank (EIB) financing support for mining critical raw materials in the European Union, which is an important step towards the EU’s clean #energytransition. The Keliber lithium project is the most advanced lithium project in Europe dedicated to supplying the #electricvehicle #battery sector. Sibanye-Stillwater is planning to implement the best available technologies, combined with the integrated business model and close proximity of mining and refining facilities meaning that Keliber will be amongst the world’s most CO2 efficient producers of lithium hydroxide. Read more on our website 👉 https://lnkd.in/enA5xFEV